April 25, 2014

Whenever I have crazy, big , scare-your-socks-off kind of dreams (like when Adam and I first started talking about starting The Studio,) one of the first people I talk to is my friend, Melody.

Melody and I have been friends for, I think, about ten years, and in that time, both of our lives have changed dramatically--over and over again. With each change, with each leap, with each heartbreak, with each panic attack, she has been there for me--sharing her wisdom, kindly listening, loving, never judging, always encouraging.

One of the things I love most about my friend is her generosity--not just with her art, but with her life, her expreiences and her wisdom. Always when I come to her, drenched in fear, she says "DO IT. Go for it!"

So, when I first found out about her new project, I wasn't even a little bit surprised.

Melody is never one to suck up all the goodness for herself. She puts it out there into the world and inspires others to do the same. Her latest project is incredible...and we need YOUR help to make it even more amazing than it already is.

Melody and Brave Girls Club have teamed up with Full Circle Exchange to create beautiful projects to connect women all over the world.

For Mother’s Day, 2014, Walmart will be featuring an ENORMOUS line of products that were assembled by women from all over the world to give them fair paying jobs and job training. Walmart is the largest retailer in the world, and they have put their influence and their checkbooks to work with their amazing Women’s Initiative (learn more about that HERE).

The cool thing is that this project takes Melody's beautiful, timeless designs and artwork and gives real women all over the world fair paying jobs assembling the products so we can buy them right here in our local Wal-Mart.

Gorgeous stuff like a whole line of Mother's Day cards:

These hot chocolate gift boxes with a beautiful, handmade necklace:

And my personal favorite, the super cute coffee mugs. (I suppose you tea drinkers would call it something else, but for me, this has "morning joe" written all over it.)

This one too:

There are SO many other products you can purchase to help support this incredible project, and today I am SOOO happy I get to give away FIVE prize packages featuring an assortment of these beautiful goodies. Keep reading to find out how you can enter to win!

First...let me explain...

Or rather, let this video explain:

A limited supply of products are in Walmart for a limited time (through Mother's Day), so we're trying to spread the word to communicate the message that we believe in Wal-Mart's Empowering Women initiative, which you can read about HERE.

So, if you, like me, believe that art is highly valuable, that creativity is important and that helping others is crucial, then read on to find out how you can help!

1. SHOP

Beginning April 21, you will find a huge island display in 2700 Walmart stores nationwide full of beautiful and meaningful products by Full Circle Exchange perfect for Mother’s Day giving…for you and for all of the women in your life!

Purchasing these products opens the door for future contracts with major retailers to carry similar lines, ensuring that job creation continues and flourishes. Other retailers are watching this campaign to see if supporting future campaigns makes economic sense for them. In a nutshell, if we can quickly sell out of these products, we will get their attention. YOU CAN HELP MAKE THAT HAPPEN by shopping and spreading the word!

Truth Cards are little playing-card-sized works of art that we invite you to make. Send them to Brave Girls Club and we will get them into the hands of at-risk and in-transition women…building the circle of sisterhood around the world!

We are thrilled we get to give away FIVE Full Circle Exchange Giveaway packages to help spread the word about this life-changing project with Brave Girls' Club.

And we would LOVE for you to WIN!

TO ENTER:

1. Leave a comment on this post. It can be anything, but we'd LOVE to know what do you wish someone had written on a truth card for YOU?

There. You're entered. (Easy, right?)

BUT...we REALLY want everyone to find out about this awesome stuff, so we're asking for help spreading the word. This is good news for you because it's going to give you lots more chances to win.

2. Share this post on Facebook3. Share this post on Twitter4. Share one of the product images on Instagream5. Pin any of the products (or all of them!) on Pinterest6. Do your own blog post about this whole big bucket of awesome.

For each of these things you do, come back here and leave another comment so you can be entered up to SIX times!!

I'm so excited to help spread the word about this truly incredible, big dream-come-true and praying you are too!

PS. We want these for our Studio Art Workshops:

Winner will be drawn in the middle of next week, so feel free to spread the word!!

Thank you for sharing this! I see a trip to WalMart in the very near future...aka tomorrow. So many beautiful things for an even more beautiful purpose.

I wish that someone would have shared the following on a truth card..."Live your life in ways that make a positive impact on those around you" "Make a difference and know that you can be the change when it is needed" "Your life will be blessed beyond measure when you bless the lives of others!"

I am so excited about the partnership with Brave Girls' Club and Full Circle Exchange. Melody is pretty darn amazing! I have been to two Walmart stores and struck out. I will not give up though. I will definitely do my share to support this incredible cause. My truth card would have said "You are wonderful just the way your are. You are enough today and everyday."

Wow. I'll admit that I'm not generally a fan of Wal-mart, but I'm so glad to see something like this in their stores!

Truth cards ... brilliant. I would have loved for someone to tell me: "It's okay to be who you are." That's something I'm embracing lately. I don't have to like all the same things as my friends or have all the same beliefs. I don't have to change anything to be loved and accepted. (Not that I'm perfect ... I have lots that I do need to change!)

Walmart on State and Bell School has a display in the center aisle near the stationary and cards area. It is looking pretty picked over. I am glad, because everything should sell out for this wonderful cause. I am still looking for the greeting cards...please let me know if you find them.

Love those designs! I'll have to check out my Walmart and see what I can find :) I wish my truth card would have said something like "Don't always live so safe. Step out of the comfort of familiarity!"

Love these products! I've seen them at walmart! I would love to win a gift for my sweet Mama! She is my role model. She raised four children ALONE and we never missed a Sunday in church. My mama made sure we always knew that even when life seemed impossible we could make it with HIM!! She is an incredible lady and I wish I could give her all the happiness in the world.
I would want my truth card to say, "Your Mama is always right!" And "you do deserve to be treated special because you are!"